davidson



March 19, 1957 u. w. DAVIDSON 2,785,583

DIRECTION CHANGING AND SPREADING DEVICE Q); INVENTOR Q JOSEPH W.DV1DSON \O y) BY l xnuxyw ATTORNEY March 19, 1957 J, w, DAvlDsoN 2,785,683

DIRECTION CHANGING AND SPREADINC DEVICE Filed Apri1 11. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH W. DAVIDSON BY ATTO R N EY March 19, 1957 J. w. DAVIDSON 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 bmw Qdi

lNvx-:NTQR JOSEPH W. DAVIDSON BY 732x414 im ATTO R N EY Unite States DIRECTION CHANGING AND SPREADBG DEVICE Joseph W. Davidson,r Chesterieid, Va., assigner to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation o New Jersey Appucason April 11, 1952, serial No. 231,777

1s claims. (ci. isn-149) This invention'relates to tobacco handling apparatus, and more particularly, to a device for changing the direction of torn tobacco leaves and spreading such leaves as they are deposited from one belt onto another belt. This type of apparatus is shown but not claimed in the copending application of O. E. Eissmann, Serial No. 264,20), filed December 29, 1951.

In many machines it is desired to change the direction of material such as torn tobacco leaves falling from one belt onto another belt, and maintaining the tobacco so uniformly distributed across the second belt regardless of whether the second belt is wider or narrower than the first belt.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple tobacco spreading device which will turn a stream'of tobacco at right angles and also spread out a stream of tobacco uniformly over a Wider belt.

Another object is to provide Va direction turning and spreading device which can be located between superimposed belts that are very close to one another.

A further object of this invention isto provide a device for removing a uniform predetermined quantity of tobacco from a moving stream of tangled tobacco leaves.

Other objects and features of the invention will ap- Vpear as the description of the particular physical ernbodirnent selected to illustrate the invention progresses.

In theaccornpanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

Figurel is a sectional 'side elevation of a tobacco feeding apparatusin conjunction with a tobacco stream divider and ardirection changing spreading device.

Figure 2 is a's'ectional end elevation of the same, taken on line 2 2 of Figure l. Y Y Y Figure 3 is an isometric view graphically illustrating the stream dividing, as well as the direction changing actions taking place during feeding operation.

Figure 4 isa sectional side elevation of a tobacco feeding apparatus employing a tobacco stream divider in conjunction with a leaf untangling and a direction changing spreading device. Y Y Y With reference to the drawings, the automatic tobacco feed illustrated is substantially of the same type and construction as the one shown and described in cepending application of O. E. Eissmann, Serial No. 264,290 tiled December 29, 1951, which may be used in conjunction with a battery of stemmer-separator machines posi` tioned side by side. All of these machines are supplied with tobacco leaves from a single feeding point and the tobacco stream enters at the side of one machine and is carried through all machines of the respective battery discharging a portion of said tobacco stream into each machine while passing through the same.

The automatic tobacco feed consists of a continuously driven,'inclined endless conveyor belt 10 surrounded by 2,785,683 patented Mar. v19,1957

tively. The shafts 18 and 2@ are journaled inks'uitable bearings integral with trough 12 which in turn is suitably attached to the housing 22 of the stemmer-separator machine.

While the lower end of the'conveyor belt 10 and'trough 12 project from the side of housing 22, the upper end of said belt and trough protrude into' the center `portion of said housing of the stemmer-separator machine. The lower end of the trough 12 is open which permitsthe tobacco mass T to be dumped into the lower portion of said trough and conveyed by belt 1G in the'direction of the arrow. When the 'tobacco reaches the upper end of said belt it is dropped onto a deflector plate 24 attachedrto a hood H.

The hood H is made' up of a pair of spaced, semi-circular sidewalls 28, the curved edges of which a'r'e connected to a curved cover plate 30. Each side wall 28 is provided with a hub 32 (Fig.V 3) both of which are rotatabiy supported by the upper shaft 20 of the belt conveyor. rThe deector plate 24 is attached to suitable flanges of said side walls 23. Y

One of the hubs 32 of side walls 28 is provided with an arm 34, the free endrof which carries a stud 36 (Fig. 3). The stud Se protrudes through a semi-circular slot. 38 ol' a vertical wall of housing 22 of the machine. A nut 4i) carried by stud 36 is provided for the purpose of locking the deflector plate 24 by means of arm 34 in the desired position. s 1

Depending on the exact position of the deflector-plate 24, a-portion of the stream of tobacco dropping Vfrom the conveyor` beit l@ downward is deected onto Vanother continuously driven inclined conveyor belt 42 which carries said deflected tobacco towards the next machine. The other portion of the tobacco stream, which is not deiected onto said second conveyor belt 42, drops downward through the guide chute 44 which at its sides is suitably attached to the vertical walls of the housing. Two spreader plates 46 and 48 are secured to they bottom edges of said guide chute 44 for the purpose of spreading the narrow column of tobacco leaves dropped onto the spreader plates'fio and 43. rhe tobacco so dropped onto the spreader plates 46 and 48 slides downwardly thereon until it falls over the edge of the hypotenuses thereof and is deposited on the wide conveyor-belt50 which runs at a degree angle to the direction in which said column is received. These plates not only guide the separated leaves and spread them in a wide, even layer, but also change the direction of the how of said stream.

The two spreader plates 46 and 48 are of right-triangular shape, each lplate being Vattached with its shortest side to one of the two opposed bottom edges of chute 44 in such manner that the triangular platesrdecline inV opposite direction as shown in Figure 3. lIn spreading such material as tobacco leaves it is necessary to place the direction turning and spreading apparatus kin a short, conned area to keep the over-all height of the machine low. The double, triangular, plate type spreader illustrated is very adaptable for use in such a confined space.

Since the conveyor belt Si) which feeds said layer of leaves into the threshing mechanism of the machine is usually inclined, the space for the spreading apparatus is still more limited. This is provided for by arranging the spreader plates in such a way that the slanted side edges 45 of the two right triangular plates face in the direction the belt Si) inclines upwardly.

The inclined conveyor belt is supported on one end by means of a roller 52 while the other end engages With a similar roller (not shown) which is continuously driven from the main drive of the machine. The conveyor belt 42, which carries the surplus tobacco tothe feed trough of the next machine, is supported by rollers 54 and56 secured to shafts 58 and 60, respectively, which are supdesirable to employ a modified form of my invention such asshown in Figure 4. Tangled leaf usually consists of long tobacco leaves laying criss-cross and tangled up to Vsuch an 'extent that they frequently form lumps which,

when allowed to enter the'machine, will interfere with a uniform ow of tobacco fed into said machine.

The modied feeding mechanism illustrated in Figure 4 is shown in conjunction with a rotary gate valve 70 which may be of the same design and construction as the ones shown in the copending application and which is employed for the purpose of feeding tobacco into the closed system of a stemmer-separator machine.

The modied feeder (Fig. 4) is provided with an inclined conveyor belt 72 running in a trough 74 which may be of identical construction as the one shown in Figures l Iand 3 'with theopen upper end of said trough permitting the tobacco leaves to drop towards the rotating gate valve 70 located therebeneath. The tobacco leaves, after dropping from the upper end tof the conveyor belt 72, are intercepted by a pair of spaced, spiked rollers 76 and 78 rotating continuously in the same direction. The spiked roller 76 rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 4, helps to move the tobacco leaves downward, while the spiked roller 78 rotating in the same direction,

' creates an upward movement which tears any lump of tobacco leaves apart and permits -only the desired amount of tobacco to go through the space between the two spiked rollers.'

The surplus tobacco is carried away by spiked roller 78 and deposited onto an inclined conveyor belt 80 which feeds said surplus tobacco into the next machine. Therefore, the spiked rollers 76 and 78 not only serve the purpose of'segregating the tangled, lumped tobacco but also discharge a iixed and predetermined quantity of segregated free leaves through the space between the two rollers.

Since the spacing between the two spiked rollers determines thequantity of tobacco to be discharged, provision has been made for varying this space. Shaft 82, to which the spiked iroller is secured, is supported at each end in a bearing block 84-(Fig. 5) slidably supported in a suitable guide frame 86 fastened to the respective vertical walls of the housing. Each bearing block 84 is provided with a turnable, horizontally extending spindle 88, the free end of which engages with a threaded bore 90 at the vertical end of frame 86. Y

The free extreme end of each spindle is also provided with .a square portion 92 to enable the operator to turn said spindle with a wrench and thereby etect `a movement of the spiked roller 78 `either towards or away from the other spiked roller 76. The latter is mounted on a shaft, each end cf which is supported in a suitable bearing rigidly attached to the respective side walls of the housing.

Shafts 82 and 94 carry pulleys 96 and 98 respectively which are connected by a belt 100 which also engages with a conventional adjustable belt tightener 102. A pulley 104 is also secured to shaft 94 which by means of a belt 106 is driven constantly from a suitable source of power (not shown).

In order to further control the Vamount of tobacco leaves discharged by the two spiked rollers 75 and 78 downward towards the rotating gate valve 70 (Fig. 4), the machine is also provided with an adjustable deflector plate 108. The latter, depending on its setting, may permit all the tobacco discharged by said spiked rollers to enter the gate valve 70 or deflect part of said tobacco on the conveyor belt 80. It also enables the operator to deect all the tobacco onto conveyor belt S in case the system of one machine becomes clogged or develops trouble. In

4 such case said tobacco is simply conveyed to the next machine. Y

The detiector plate 108 is mounted on a suitable horizontal rod 110 the ends of which are supported in suitable bearings attached to the vertical walls of the housing. To one end of rod 110 protruding on tone side of the housing is secured an arm 112, the free end of which Vmay be provided with a conventional spring loaded stud or pin which Vmay be engaged rwith any one of the row of holes'114,

depending on the setting desired.

Adjacent to the bottom opening 116 of the rotating gate valve are Yattached two triangular spreader plates 118 and 120 slanting downward in opposite direction towards an inclined wide conveyory belt 122. VThe con-k veyor belt 122 feeds the stream of tobacco leaves deposited thereon into the threshing and separating mechamsm.

The spreader plates 118 and 120 are of the same shape and construction as plates 46 and 48 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 and described heretofore. Plates 118 and 120 perform the same function, namely, spreading the tobacco leaves emerging from the gate valve 70 and changing its flow of direction to conform with the width and direction of travel of the conveyor belt 112.

The invention hereinbefore described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments ofthe same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

l. Tobacco handling apparatus comprising, an infeed conveyor belt and outfeed conveyor belt positioned below said infeed conveyor belt, a guide member for directing material delivered from said infeed conveyor belt towards said outfeed conveyor belt, a chute positioned ybelow the Vdelivery end of said infeed conveyor belt for receiving tobacco which is not directed over onto said outfeed conveyor belt by said guide member, apair of declining right angle, triangular plates positioned below said chute for spreading out said tobacco, the apices of said triangular guide plates being oppositely arranged with respect toY one another, the base ends of said triangular plates being .arranged to receive tobacco falling through said chute, and a collecting conveyor positioned below said triangular guide plates for receiving tobacco discharged over the hypotenuses of said triangular plates.

p 2. A tobacco handling apparatus comprising, a tobacco receiving conveyor for moving tobacco Vthrough said apparatus, an infeed conveyor for delivering tobacco-to said apparatus at right langles to the direction of travel of the tobacco receiving conveyor in said'apparatus, and a pair of spreading plates, each of which has a tapered inclined edge extending in opposite directions across the width of the tobacco receiving conveyor to spread tobacco received from said infeed conveyor uniformly across the width of said tobacco receiving conveyor by causing t-obacco to slide oi the inclined tapered edges under the force of gravity.

3. A tobacco leaf spreading device comprising, a pair of inclined triangular leaf spreading plates arranged so that theV apexes of the plates extend in opposite directions and the sides thereof are arranged to receive a shower of tobacco, and a tobacco discharge device extending along said sides` to shower tobacco downwardly thereon to allow said showered tobacco to slide down said oppositelydisposed triangular plates to effect a discharge of said showered tobacco over the sides of said triangular plates onto a comm'on collecting conveyor.

4. A direction changing and spreading device comprising, a source of tobacco showered in a broad stream, a pair of declining right angle triangular plates arranged so that the sides thereof are positioned to receive said stream at one end from said sottrae of showered tobacco and to discharge said tobacco over the hypotenuse of each afrasgess triangular plate as nit downwardly under the action of gravity over the plates, the apex of each plate being arranged to be the lowermost portion of each plate to there by eiect a discharge of the material onto a common collecting conveyor. Y s

5. A tobacco handling apparatus comprising, an infeed -belt, an outfeed belt positioned below said infeed belt for receiving tobacco discharged from said infeed belt, a `toothed roller positioned below the discharge end of said infeed belt for pushing tobacco toward said outfeed belt, a second toothed roller spaced from said rst toothed roller for removing a predetermined quantity of tobacco from the tobacco discharged from the infeed belt onto the rst toothed roller, and a receiving chute for receiving 4and discharging said tobacco so removed into a tobacco processing machine.

6. Apparatus of the type described in claim 5 wherein 'an adjustable guide plate is positioned adjacent the second toothed roller for regulating the amount of tobacco delivered into the receiving chute and for causing the balance of Ithe tobacco to be deposited upon the outfeed belt.

7. Apparatus of the type described in claim 5 wherein a pair of right angle triangular spreading plates are disposed below said receiving chute, said triangular plates being arranged so that the hypotenuses thereof are disposed at a downwardly declining angle and both plates are contiguous with each other so that tobacco leaves falling downwardly through said chute slide along the plate on which it falls until it is discharged over the hypotenuses thereof, and a collecting belt arranged and disposed under said triangular plates for receiving a tobacco so discharged over said hypotenuses in a wide stream.

8. Apparatus for spreading tobacco uniformly over a Wide area comprising, an infeed belt, means for delivering a shower of tobacco from said infeed belt into a tobacco receiving chute, a pair of triangular plates arranged so that the tapered side declines downwardly in opposite directions from a point where said plates are contiguous with each other, said decline being of a grade which will cause the showered tobacco to slide downwardly along said plates, and a tobacco receiving belt for receiving tobacco showered over the tapered side of said triangular plates.

9. Apparatus for removing a uniform portion of tobacco continuously from a traveling stream of tobacco comprising, an infeed conveyor belt having a discharge end, an outfeed conveyor belt positioned below said infeed belt, a spiked roller positioned in the path of the tobacco stream as it is discharged from the infeed belt onto the outfeed belt to push said tobacco toward said outfeed belt, a second spiked roller spaced from the first spiked roller from removing a uniform quantity of tobacco from that discharged by said infeed belt onto said rst spiked roller, and tobacco receiving device for receiving tobacco so removed.

10. Apparatus for removing a uniform portion of tobacco continuously from a traveling stream of tobacco comprising, an infeed conveyor belt having a discharge end, an outfeed conveyor belt positioned below said infeed belt, a spiked roller positioned in the path of the tobacco stream as it is discharged from the infeed belt `onto the outfeed belt, a second spiked roller spaced from -the rst spiked roller for removing a uniform quantity .of tobacco from that discharged by said infeed belt onto -said rst spiked roller, tobacco receiving device for re- .ceiving tobacco so removed, and a guide plate positioned adjacent the second spiked roller for deecting excess tobacco removed by said spiked roller to said outfeed conveyor belt.

l1. A tobacco handling and spreading device comprising, a conveyor for delivering a continuous stream of tobacco to a discharge station, a pair of inclined plates positioned under said discharge station for receiving to- `bacco discharged to spread said tobacco laterally in oppo 'site directions, each of said plates bein'g formed with a taper so that as the' tobacco slides downwardly under the action of gravity along the plates it is discharged uniformly along the length of said tapered sides, and a collecting belt traveling in a direction which is at an angle to the direction of travel of said conveyor.

l2. A tobacco handling and spreading apparatus comprising, an infeed belt for delivering tobacco in a broad stream continuously to a discharge station, an inclined belt positioned on a lower elevation and in a direction transverse to the iirst named belt for receiving tobacco discharged from the infeed belt to convey the tobacco from a lower elevation to a higher elevation, and a pair of inclined, right-angle, triangular plates arranged so that the base ends thereof are interposed between said infeed belt and said inclined belt to receive the tobacco showered from said infeed belt, said triangular plates being arranged so that the hypotenuses thereof face in the directiion said inclined receiving belt inclines upwardly.

13. The method of removing a uniform quantity of tobacco leaves from an entangled stream of tobacco leaves comprising, removing a predetermined amount of tobacco away from the underside of said stream of entangled leaves, dropping the tobacco so removed donwardly towards a tobacco receiving chute, and deecting the balance of the tobacco to an outgoing conveyor.

14. The method of removing a uniform quantity of tobacco leaves from an entangled stream of tobacco leaves in a tobacco processing machine, comprisingremoving a predetermined amount of tobacco away from the underside of said stream of entangled leaves, dropping the tobacco so removed downwardly towards a tobacco receiving chute, and conveying the balance of the tobacco not removed away from the machine.

15. The method of removing a predetermined portion of tobacco from the under side of a continuously showered stream of entangled tobacco leaves comprising, making a preliminary separation of a portion of the showered tobacco stream and showering said portion downwardly, then making a secondary separation of a portion of the tangled leaves so showered by the first separation, and then removing the surplus of tobacco remaining after the second separation has taken place.

16. A tobacco handling and spreading apparatus cornprising, a conveyor belt for delivering a continuous stream of tobacco to a discharge station, a pair of right-angle, triangular plates positioned adjacent to each other under the stream of tobacco discharged at said discharge station and arranged so that the sides thereof extend along the same direction as said first conveyor belt travels, and a tobacco receiving conveyor belt positioned under said triangular plates for conveying .tobacco in a direction transverse to that of the first conveyor belt, said tobacco receiving conveyor belt being arranged at an upwardly inclined angle so that the hypotenuses of the right-angle triangular plates face the upwardly inclined portion of the second collecting belt.

17. A device for spreading and changing the direction of a continuous stream of tobacco comprising, a conveyor belt having a discharge end, a pair of inclined plates eX- tending in the same direction as said conveyor belt and positioned in the path of the falling .tobacco discharged from said conveyor belt so as to receive said tobacco and allow it to slide down the inclined plates in opposite directions under the force of gravity, said plates each having a tapered side so that the sliding tobacco is discharged over the tapered side, and a collecting belt traveling under said tapered plates in a direction transverse to the first-named conveyor belt for receiving tobacco discharged from said plates in a broad stream.

18. A .tobacco spreading device comprising a pair of right angle triangular plates having their hypotenuses facing in the same direction, and a mounting for said plates to position said plates to decline in opposite directions so that tobacco deposited thereon slides down over their respective hpyotenuses across the width of said YReferences Cited in the tile of this patent Y UNTED STATES PATENTS Y Allison v Apr. 28, 1903 Prescott Dec. 17, 1918 V*Patterson Oct. 9, 1951 8 FOREIGN PATENTS Y Great Britain' Aug. 19,-1931 Great Britain 'A Jan. V21, 1932 Italy July 24, 1939V Great Britain YMaly 23, 1939 Germany June 22, V1932 Germany f Feb. 20, 1933 

